Guinness Nigeria celebrates women, urges companies to expand leadership opportunities

Guinness Nigeria Plc marked International Women’s Day with a panel discussion, celebrating women in the workplace and calling on organisations to create broader leadership pathways.

The event, themed “Give to Gain: How We Create Value by Lifting Women,” brought together corporate leaders, development experts, and employees to discuss mentorship, inclusion, and strategies for advancing women in business.

Girish Sharma, the managing director and chief executive officer, said empowering women is both a social responsibility and a business imperative.

“Empowering women is not only the right thing to do, but it is also essential for building stronger organisations and communities. When opportunities are shared and people are supported to grow and lead, businesses and societies thrive together,” Sharma said.

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The session featured a keynote address by Olufunke Amobi, executive director of operations at Stanbic IBTC Bank, and a panel including IT professional Folorunsho Aliu, UN Women national consultant Hansatu Adegbite, and Guinness Nigeria’s human resources director Ayodeji Ajibola.

Amobi emphasised mentorship as a critical driver of leadership development. “When women are supported to grow, they expand possibilities for others and create a cycle of impact that strengthens industries and communities,” she said.

Panel discussions highlighted the importance of empathy in leadership, institutional gender inclusion, and tackling structural barriers that limit women’s advancement. Speakers encouraged companies to embed inclusive policies, strengthen mentorship programmes, and recognise diverse perspectives in leadership decisions.

The event concluded with Guinness Nigeria reaffirming its commitment to inclusive workplace practices and empowering women across all organisational levels, underlining the link between gender diversity and long-term value creation.